Synergistic Inhibition of Candida albicans by Cranberry Proanthocyanidins and Probiotics: Novel Strategies for Vulvovaginal Candidiasis Treatment

Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is a common gynecological condition primarily caused by <i>Candida albicans</i>. The excessive use of antifungal drugs has led to increased drug resistance, necessitating the search for alternative therapies. This study investigates the synergistic antifungal effects of cranberry proanthocyanidins (PACs) and probiotics against <i>C. albicans</i>. PACs were prepared at different concentrations (low, medium, high) and tested alone and in combination with multi-strain probiotics, including <i>Lactobacillus rhamnosus</i> and <i>Lactobacillus plantarum</i>. The antifungal activity of their cell-free supernatants (CFS) was also assessed. The results demonstrated that the combination of <i>L. plantarum</i> and medium-concentration PACs (L.p. + PACs M) significantly enhathe inhibitionition of <i>C. albicans</i> compared to individual treatments. In the Vaginal Microbiota Communities Analysis, this condition reduced <i>C. albicans</i> relative abundance to below 0.01%. This study highlights the potential of natural compounds and probiotics as alternative therapeutic strategies for VVC.